System for dropping drone from underwater craft

Abstract

The drone release system comprises: - a plurality of capsules (6), each capsule (6) containing a drone and being configured to rise to the surface of the water due to its buoyancy of the capsule (6) and to open once the capsule (6) has reached the surface of the water to release the drone, - a store (8) for storing the capsules (6), the store (8) being in permanent fluidic communication with the outside so that the surrounding water fills the store (8) when the underwater craft (2) is submerged, and - a retaining device (16) having a retaining configuration in which the retaining device (16) retains the capsules (6) in the store (8) and a release configuration in which the retaining device (16) releases a capsule (6) for its ascent to the surface of the water.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a drone deployment system from an underwater vehicle.

[0002] For surveillance missions, such as maritime traffic monitoring, it is useful to be able to deploy a drone from an underwater vehicle. It may be desirable to deploy the drone discreetly, for example, to monitor a surface vessel illegally cleaning fuel tanks at sea.

[0003] One of the goals of the invention is to provide a drone launching system from an underwater vehicle, the drone launching system being simple and efficient.

[0004] To this end, the invention proposes a drone deployment system from an underwater vehicle, the deployment system comprising: a plurality of capsules, each capsule containing a drone and having buoyancy enabling the capsule to rise to the surface of the water, each capsule being configured to open once the capsule has reached the surface of the water to release the drone, a store for storing the capsules, the store being in permanent fluidic communication with the outside so that the surrounding water fills the store when the underwater craft is submerged, the store having an exit opening for the capsules, and a retaining device having a retaining configuration in which the retaining device retains the capsules inside the store and a release configuration in which the retaining device releases a capsule for exit through the exit opening and the released capsule rising to the surface of the water due to the buoyancy of the capsule.

[0005] The use of a capsule containing the drone allows for its deployment while the underwater vehicle is submerged. The capsule can rise to the surface using only its buoyancy, releasing the drone. This makes the drone deployment simple and discreet.

[0006] Providing a store filled with seawater and capsules resistant to the pressure of the surrounding water simplifies the release device by avoiding the need for an atmospheric pressure storage space and an airlock system for releasing a capsule from the underwater vehicle.

[0007] Dropping a capsule from the store filled with surrounding water can be done very simply by releasing the capsule which then rises to the surface due to its buoyancy.

[0008] In specific embodiments, the release system comprises one or more of the following optional features, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations: The release system includes a transmission device configured for transmitting mission data to the drone from one or more capsules received in the magazine before the release of the capsule(s); the transmission device is configured for transmitting mission data to the drone from the capsule that will be the next capsule to be released; the retention device is configured to release a capsule only after the transmission of mission data to the drone from that capsule by the transmission device; each capsule is watertight and resistant to water pressure, for example at least up to a pressure of 50 bar, preferably at least up to a pressure of 700 bar; each capsule comprises at least two capsule parts, the drone being received in one of the capsule parts; the release system includes a telecommunications relay system configured to communicate remotely with the drone and / or with the underwater vehicle;The telecommunications relay system is located in the capsule or in a communication buoy separate from the capsule and, preferably, jettisonable from the underwater vehicle; the drone of at least one of the capsules is equipped with a geolocation tracker, in particular a GPS tracker, jettisonable from the drone onto a target to be monitored, in particular a vessel to be monitored; the geolocation tracker is fitted with a fastening device configured to retain the geolocation tracker on a ferromagnetic part of the target to be monitored, for example, part of the hull of the target to be monitored. The magazine is oriented substantially vertically when the underwater vehicle is horizontal.The capsule comprises a chamber having an outlet opening closed by a removable lid and a piston sliding within the chamber and separating the chamber into a first compartment, delimited between the piston and the lid, which receives the drone, and a second compartment; the capsule comprises an ejection device, for example pneumatic, configured to sequentially generate a pressure drop in the first compartment to eject the lid and then generate an overpressure in the second compartment to push the piston towards the outlet opening and eject the drone out of the chamber.

[0009] The invention also relates to an underwater vehicle comprising a drone release system as defined above.

[0010] In some implementation examples, the store is housed in a kiosk of the underwater vehicle so that the capsules are dropped from a top of the kiosk.

[0011] The invention will become clearer upon reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the drawings in which: THE Figures 1 And 2 These are partial schematic views of an underwater vehicle equipped with a drone deployment system, respectively in a first and second configuration; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a capsule in the drone release system, the capsule being on the surface of the water and opened to release a drone housed inside the capsule; the Figure 4 is a schematic overview of an underwater vehicle equipped with a drone deployment system, after a drone has been deployed; the Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a capsule according to another example, the capsule being on the surface of the water and closed; the Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the capsule of the Figure 5 after the capsule opens and the drone is ejected; the Figure 7 is a schematic overview of an underwater vehicle equipped with a drone deployment system, after a drone has been deployed, illustrating the use of a telecommunications relay system housed in a communication buoy; and the Figure 8 is a schematic top view of a drone drop system comprising several magazines housed in a single cylinder.

[0012] As illustrated on the Figures 1 And 2 , a submersible vehicle 2 is equipped with a drone release system 4 allowing drones to be released from the submersible vehicle 2, when the submersible vehicle 2 is submerged below the surface of the water.

[0013] The drone release system 4 preferably allows mission data to be transmitted to each drone and the status of each drone to be monitored.

[0014] The drone deployment system 4 comprises underwater deployment vehicles or deployment capsules 6 (hereinafter "capsule 6"), each capsule 6 containing a drone (not visible on the Figures 1 And 2 ).

[0015] Each capsule 6 has positive buoyancy allowing capsule 6 to rise to the surface of the water when capsule 6 is dropped underwater from drone release system 4.

[0016] The drone release system 4 includes a magazine 8 for storing a plurality of capsules 6. Each capsule 6 is closed when stored in the magazine 8 and contains a drone.

[0017] Magazine 8 is in permanent fluidic communication with the outside, so that magazine 8 is filled with surrounding water when the underwater vehicle 2 is submerged.

[0018] The underwater vehicle 2 lacks a closure system to seal the magazine 8 in a watertight manner.

[0019] The drone release system 4 is configured for example to release the capsules 6 one by one, each released capsule 6 exiting the magazine 8 to reach the surface of the water due to the buoyancy of that capsule 6.

[0020] Store 8, for example, has a conduit 10 configured to receive capsules 6 and opening to the outside through an outlet opening 12, configured to allow the exit of capsules 6, preferably one by one.

[0021] The store 8 is designed to receive several capsules 6 arranged one behind the other, the drone release system 4 releasing the capsules 6 one after the other through the exit opening 12, preferably by releasing one capsule 6 at a time.

[0022] Conduit 10, for example, is configured to receive capsules 6 one after the other.

[0023] The exit opening 12 is positioned and sized to allow the exit of capsules 6 through the exit opening 12. Preferably, the exit opening 12 is positioned and sized to allow the exit of only one capsule 6 at a time.

[0024] The magazine 8 has a plurality of positions for the capsules 6, including a first position adjacent to the exit opening 12 and subsequent positions.

[0025] Once capsule 6, located in the first position adjacent to the exit opening 12, is released via the exit opening 12, the other capsules 6 still present in the conduit 10 then advance one position in the conduit 10, so that capsule 6 located in the second position passes into the first position and so on.

[0026] The outlet opening 12 is preferably located at an upper end of the conduit 10.

[0027] The exit opening 12 is for example located on an upper surface 14 of the hull of the underwater vehicle 2. The upper surface 14 is located on the top of the underwater vehicle 2 when the trim of the underwater vehicle 2 is horizontal.

[0028] The conduit 10 extends along a central line A, which is for example straight or curved.

[0029] In one particular example, the centerline A is straight. In this case, the centerline A is preferably vertical when the underwater vehicle 2 is horizontal. This facilitates the exit of the capsule 6, located in the first position, through the exit opening 12.

[0030] Store 8, and more specifically conduit 10, is for example in permanent fluidic communication with the outside via outlet opening 12.

[0031] As an alternative or optional complement, the store 8, and more specifically the conduit 10, is in permanent fluidic communication with the outside via an auxiliary opening separate from the outlet opening 12.

[0032] When the underwater vehicle 2 is submerged, the magazine 8, and more specifically the conduit 10, is filled with surrounding water and the capsules 6 are subjected to the pressure of the surrounding water.

[0033] The drone release system 4 includes a restraint device 16 having a restraint configuration ( Figure 1 ), in which the retaining device 16 retains the capsules 6 inside the magazine 8, and a release configuration ( Figure 2 ), in which the retaining device 16 releases a capsule 6 for the exit of the capsule 6 through the exit opening 12 and the rise of the released capsule 6 to the surface of the water due to the buoyancy of the capsule 6.

[0034] The retaining device 16 is, for example, configured to partially or completely obstruct the outlet opening 12 in the retaining configuration ( Figure 1 ) and prevent a capsule 6 from exiting through the exit opening 12, and to release the exit opening 12 in the release configuration ( Figure 2 ) to allow the exit of a capsule 6 through the exit opening 12.

[0035] The restraint device 16 includes, for example, one or more restraint elements 18, each restraint element 18 being movable between a closed position ( Figure 1 ) in which the retaining element 18 extends into the opening 12 and prevents the passage of a capsule 6 through the exit opening 12, and an open position ( Figure 2 ), in which the retaining element 18 is freed from the exit opening 12 and allows the passage of a capsule 6 through the exit opening 12.

[0036] Two retaining elements 18 are illustrated on the Figures 1 And 2 In variants, the restraint device 16 comprises a single restraint element 18 or more than two restraint elements 18.

[0037] In the illustrated example, each retaining element 18 in the closed position protrudes into the exit opening 12.

[0038] Advantageously, the drone release system 4 includes a data transmission device 20 configured to transmit data to a drone received in a capsule 6 present in the store 8, in particular capsule 6 located in the first position of the store 8, i.e. the next capsule 6 which will be released by the drone release system 4.

[0039] The data transmission device 20 is configured for example for the wireless transmission of data to the drone received in capsule 6, in particular by radio communication with the drone.

[0040] The data transmission device 20 preferably includes an antenna 22 configured to transmit data to the drone received in the capsule 6.

[0041] Antenna 22 is for example provided in the form of an electromagnetic loop, in particular an electromagnetic ball surrounding store 8, preferably at the height of the first position of store 8.

[0042] The data transmission device 20 allows, for example, the transmission of mission data to the drone present in capsule 6 located in the first position.

[0043] Mission data includes, for example, the type of mission to be carried out, a trajectory to be followed, with, for example, waypoints and / or identification data of a target to be searched for.

[0044] Advantageously, the drone release system 4 includes a presence detector 24 configured to detect the presence of a capsule 6 in the first position of the magazine 8. The presence detector 24 ensures the presence, in the magazine 8, of a capsule 6 ready to be released.

[0045] The drone release system 4 includes an electronic control unit 26 configured to pilot the restraint device 16, in particular to control the switching of the restraint device 16 between the restraint configuration ( Figure 1 ) and the drop configuration ( Figure 2 Preferably, the retention device 16 and / or the electronic control unit 26 are configured to release only one capsule 6 at a time.

[0046] Where appropriate, the electronic control unit 26 is preferably configured to communicate with the drone of the capsule 6 located in the first position via the data transmission device 20 and / or to receive the signal provided by the presence detector 24.

[0047] As illustrated on the Figure 3 , capsule 6 contains a drone 30, preferably a single drone 30. The drone 30 is for example a flying drone, in particular a rotary-wing drone, comprising one or more rotors, in particular four rotors.

[0048] The drone 30, for example, includes 32 onboard sensors. These 32 sensors include, for example, an image sensor, specifically a camera.

[0049] For example, drone 30 is equipped with a payload 34 carried on drone 30 and droppable by drone 30.

[0050] Payload 34, for example, is a geolocation tracker, specifically a GPS tracker. Drone 30 is then configured, for example, to drop the geolocation tracker onto a target, such as a ship to be monitored.

[0051] The charge 34, for example, is equipped with a charge attachment device that allows the charge to be attached to the target. The charge attachment device is configured, for example, to attach by magnetic attraction to a ferromagnetic part of the target, such as the hull of the target when the target is a ship. The charge attachment device includes, for example, one or more permanent magnets and / or one or more electromagnets.

[0052] Capsule 6, for example, has a spherical or ovoid shape. This shape offers high resistance to external pressure, allowing capsule 6 to be deployed at a great depth.

[0053] Capsule 6 has a closed and an open configuration. In its closed configuration, Capsule 6 contains the Dorne 30. In its open configuration, Capsule 6 allows the drone 30 to exit Capsule 6. Capsule 6 is preferably watertight when closed.

[0054] Capsule 6 is configured to release drone 30 when it reaches the water's surface. Specifically, capsule 6 is configured to open when it reaches the water's surface, thereby releasing drone 30.

[0055] The opening of capsule 6 is, for example, controlled according to a measurement provided by a depth sensor configured to provide a signal representative of the depth at which capsule 6 is located.

[0056] The capsule 6 includes, for example, a first part of capsule 36 and a second part of capsule 38 movable relative to each other between a closed position in which the first part of capsule 36 and the second part of capsule 38 surround the drone 30, defining an internal volume, preferably sealed, in which the drone 30 is received, and an open position in which the first part of capsule 36 and the second part of capsule 38 are separated from each other to open the capsule 6 and allow the drone 30 to take off.

[0057] Capsule 6 is configured, for example, so that the first part of capsule 36 and the second part of capsule 38 remain joined together after capsule 6 is opened. The first part of capsule 36 and the second part of capsule 26 are, for example, hinged together.

[0058] The first part of capsule 36 and the second part of capsule 38 form, for example, two complementary half-shells, the union of which forms a hollow shell defining capsule 6.

[0059] When capsule 6 has a spherical or ovoidal shape, the first part of capsule 36 and the second part of capsule 38 are, for example, each in the shape of a spherical or ovoidal hemi-shell, the first part of capsule 36 and the second part of capsule 38 together forming a spherical or ovoidal shell.

[0060] The drone release system 4 includes, for example, a telecommunications relay system 40 to ensure telecommunications between the drone 30 and the underwater vehicle 2, particularly when the drone 30 has been released.

[0061] The telecommunications relay system 40 is configured for wired or wireless communication with the drone 30, for example via a Wifi, Bluetooth, Ant+, LiFi or satellite protocol.

[0062] The telecommunications system 40 allows communication with the drone 30 when the drone 30 is in flight.

[0063] This allows, for example, drone 30 to send data collected using each sensor 32, in particular images captured by an image sensor.

[0064] For example, the telecommunications relay system 40 is located in capsule 6.

[0065] The telecommunications relay system 40 is configured for wired or wireless communication between capsule 6 and drone 30.

[0066] The telecommunications relay system 40 is for example configured for communication between capsule 6 and underwater vehicle 12, for example wireless communication between capsule 6 and underwater vehicle 12. Capsule 6 preferably includes an electrical energy reserve 44 on board capsule 6. The electrical energy reserve 44 is for example connected to the telecommunications relay system for its electrical energy supply.

[0067] As illustrated on the Figure 4 , the underwater vehicle 2 comprises a hull 46 having a main hull part 48 extending along a longitudinal axis L and a kiosk 50 arranged on top of the main hull part 48.

[0068] The magazine 8 is located inside the hull 44 and opens to the outside through the exit opening 12, which is preferably arranged on an upper surface 14 of the hull 44, facing upwards.

[0069] Preferably, the magazine 8 is housed in the kiosk 50 of the submersible 2. This facilitates the installation of the magazine 8 because the kiosk 50 is designed to accommodate equipment such as an exit hatch for operators or antennas. The upper surface 14 is then located at the top end of the kiosk 48.

[0070] During operation, the underwater vehicle 2 is submerged, and capsules 6 are received in the magazine 8, specifically in the magazine's conduit 10, which is filled with ambient water. The capsules 6 are subjected to the pressure of the surrounding water. This pressure is a function of the underwater vehicle 2's diving depth.

[0071] Each capsule 6 tends to rise to the surface of the water due to its buoyancy, but the capsules 6 are retained in the magazine 8 as long as the retention device 16 is in the retention configuration ( Figure 1 ).

[0072] Before dropping a capsule 6, optionally, the electronic control unit 26 checks the presence of a capsule 6 in the first position of the magazine 8 and / or transmits mission data to this capsule 8 via the data transmission device 20.

[0073] For the release of a capsule 6, the electronic control unit 26 commands the movement of the retaining device 16 into the release configuration ( Figure 2 ). Exit opening 12 is released.

[0074] Capsule 6, located in the first position of magazine 8, is released and exits through the outlet opening 12. The retaining device 16 returns to its retaining configuration once capsule 6 is released. The other capsule(s) 6 advance one position within magazine 8 and are retained by the retaining device 16 in its retaining configuration.

[0075] Capsule 6, once released, rises to the surface of the water solely due to its buoyancy. Once capsule 6 reaches the surface, it opens to release drone 30. Drone 30 can then take off to carry out its mission.

[0076] During the mission, the drone 30 captures data using each sensor 32 and, possibly, drops a payload 34. The data captured by the drone 30 is, for example, transmitted to the capsule 6 via the telecommunications relay system 40, continuously or intermittently, and possibly transmitted from the capsule 6 to the underwater vehicle 2 via the telecommunications relay system 40, continuously or intermittently.

[0077] The drone 30 is configured for example to carry out autonomous missions, i.e. without intervention from a remote operator, and / or piloted missions, with intervention from a remote operator, for example to give remote flight instructions, give remote data capture instructions and / or control the drone remotely.

[0078] The invention is not limited to the examples and variants described above. Other examples and variants are conceivable.

[0079] In the examples illustrated on the Figures 1 à 4 The underwater drop vehicle or capsule 6 is spherical or ovoid in shape. Other shapes are possible.

[0080] In examples, as illustrated on the Figure 5 The capsule 6 has a chamber 60, preferably cylindrical, having an exit opening 62 closed by a removable cover 64, and a piston 66 sliding inside the chamber 60 and dividing the chamber 60 into a first compartment 60A defined between the piston 66 and the cover 64, and a second compartment 60B. The drone 30 received in the capsule 6 is arranged in the first compartment 60A.

[0081] Capsule 6 includes an ejection device 68 configured to sequentially open the cover 64 and then eject the drone 30 from capsule 6.

[0082] The ejection device 68 is, for example, a pneumatic device configured to sequentially generate an overpressure in the first compartment 60A (Arrow S1) to cause the ejection of the cover 64, then generate an overpressure in the second compartment 60B (Arrow S2) to move the piston 66 towards the outlet opening 62 of the chamber 60 and eject the drone 30 out of the chamber 60, as illustrated in the Figure 6 .

[0083] Preferably, the capsule 6 includes stops 70 to prevent the piston 66 from moving towards the end of the second compartment 60B when generating overpressure in the first compartment 60A.

[0084] Preferably, the drone 30 is in an active standby state before ejection and in an active state after ejection, with the drone 30 in the active state activating to fly.

[0085] Advantageously, the drone 30 is configured to automatically detect its ejection from capsule 6 and to automatically switch from the active standby state to the active state in which the drone 30 starts flying when the drone 30 detects its ejection out of capsule 6.

[0086] The drone 30 is configured, for example, to perform inertial measurements (displacement, speed and / or acceleration of the drone 30), at least while the drone 30 is in active standby mode, for example using an onboard inertial measurement unit of the drone 30 and / or one or more accelerometers of the drone 30, and to detect the ejection of the drone 30 based on the inertial measurements, when the drone 30 is in active standby mode.

[0087] In the examples illustrated on the Figures 1 à 4 , the telecommunications relay system 40 is located in the drone 30 release capsule 6.

[0088] In some examples, a telecommunications relay system 40 is disposed in a communication buoy 80 separate from the capsule 6. The communication buoy 80 is, for example, jettisonable from the underwater vehicle 2, and preferably recoverable in the underwater vehicle 2.

[0089] The telecommunications relay system 40 is configured for wireless communication with the drone 40, in particular via the wireless telecommunications protocols indicated above.

[0090] The telecommunications relay system 40 is configured for wired communication with the underwater vehicle 2, via a wired communication link 82 extending between the communication buoy 80 and the underwater vehicle 2. The wired communication link 82 is for example an optical link comprising one or more optical fibers for the exchange of communication signals between the telecommunications relay system 40 and the underwater vehicle 2.

[0091] The use of a communication buoy 80 allows the communication buoy 80 to be used for several drones 30. This is more practical and economical than using a respective telecommunication relay system 40 for each drone 30.

[0092] On the Figures 3 And 7A spherical or ovoid capsule 6 is shown, but the use of a telecommunications relay system 40 housed in the capsule 6 or in a communication buoy 80 is possible with any type of capsule 6, including a capsule 6 as illustrated on the Figures 5 And 6 .

[0093] As illustrated on the Figure 8 In some examples, the drone release system 4 has several magazines 8 arranged side by side in the same conduit 84. The conduit 84 is, for example, a cylindrical housing provided in the underwater vehicle 2, in particular in a kiosk 50 of the underwater vehicle 2.

[0094] In examples, as illustrated on the Figure 8 The drone release system 4 has at least two magazines 8 with different cross-sectional dimensions, specifically two magazines 8 with circular cross-sections and different diameters. This allows for a first magazine 8 to be used for relatively small drones and a second magazine for relatively large drones. Drones of different sizes can be used to carry different payloads and perform different missions.

[0095] In one example, as illustrated on the Figure 8 , the drone release system includes a first magazine 8 having a large diameter section and a small magazine having a small diameter section.

Claims

1. Drone release system from an underwater craft, the release system comprising: - a plurality of capsules (6), each capsule (6) containing a drone (30) and having buoyancy enabling the capsule (6) to rise to the surface of the water, each capsule (6) being configured to open once the capsule (6) has reached the surface of the water to release the drone (30), - a magazine (8) for storing the capsules (6), the magazine (8) being in permanent fluidic communication with the outside so that the surrounding water fills the magazine (8) when the underwater craft (2) is submerged, the magazine (8) having an exit opening (12) for the capsules (12),and - a retention device (16) having a retention configuration in which the retention device (16) retains the capsules (6) inside the magazine (8) and a release configuration in which the retention device (16) releases a capsule (6) for the exit of the capsule (6) via the exit opening (12) and the rise of the released capsule (6) to the surface of the water due to the buoyancy of the capsule (6).

2. Release system according to claim 1, comprising a transmission device (20) configured for transmitting mission data to the drone of one or more capsules (6) received in the magazine (8) before the release of the capsule(s) (6).

3. Release system according to claim 2, wherein the transmission device (20) is configured for transmitting mission data to the drone (30) of the capsule (6) which will be the next capsule (6) to be released.

4. Release system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the retention device (16) is configured to release a capsule (6) only after the transmission of mission data to the drone (30) from this capsule (6) by the transmission device (20).

5. Release system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each capsule (6) is watertight and resistant to water pressure, for example at least up to a pressure of 50 bar, preferably at least up to a pressure of 700 bar.

6. Release system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each capsule (6) comprises at least two capsule parts (36, 38), the drone (30) being received in one of the capsule parts (36, 38).

7. Release system according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a telecommunications relay system (40) configured to communicate remotely with the drone (30) and / or with the underwater vehicle (2).

8. Release system according to claim 7, wherein the telecommunication relay system (40) is disposed in the capsule (6) or in a communication buoy (80) separate from the capsule (6) and, preferably, jettisonable from the underwater craft (2).

9. Dropping system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drone (30) of at least one of the capsules (6) is equipped with a geolocation tracker (34), in particular a GPS tracker, droppable by the drone (30) on a target to be monitored, in particular a ship to be monitored.

10. Release system according to claim 9, wherein the geolocation tracer (34) is provided with a fastening device configured to retain the geolocation tracer (34) on a ferromagnetic part of the target to be monitored, for example a part of a hull of the target to be monitored.

11. Release system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the magazine (8) is oriented substantially vertically when the trim of the underwater craft is horizontal.

12. Release system according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the capsule (6) comprises a chamber (60) having an exit opening (62) closed by a removable cover (64) and a piston (66) received sliding in the chamber (60) and separating the chamber (60) into a first compartment (60A), delimited between the piston (66) and the cover (64), and receiving the drone (30), and a second compartment (60B).

13. Release system according to claim 12, wherein the capsule (6) includes an ejection device, for example pneumatic, configured to sequentially generate a suppression in the first compartment (60A) to eject the cover (64) and then generate an overpressure in the second compartment (60B) to push the piston (66) towards the exit opening and eject the drone (30) out of the chamber (60).

14. Release system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the magazine (8) is provided to receive several capsules (6) arranged one behind the other in the magazine (8) and to release the capsules (6) one after the other via the exit opening (12).

15. Underwater craft comprising a drone release system according to any one of the preceding claims.

16. Underwater craft according to claim 15, the magazine (8) being housed in a kiosk of the underwater craft so as to release the capsules (6) from a top of the kiosk.

Images